More time to admire at a llama’s pace
ON warm spring days, with barely a hint of a breeze rippling through the flowering yellow gorse bushes, there’s nothing quite like a walk on Dartmoor to escape the ‘hamster wheel’ at work.
Deadlines, emails, meetings ... it’s all somehow forgotten when all that surrounds you are unspoilt views for as far as the eye can see.
Where I live in the Tamar Valley, the wilderness of Dartmoor National Park is a comforting sight on the undulating horizon, with the eye always drawn to the iconic Brentor Church on its rocky outcrop.
You’ll usually find me heading for the nearest tor with my dog, Finn, however last weekend I swapped canine for camelid on a guided ‘hot chocolate walk’ hosted by Diane and Steve Weymouth of Dartmoor Llama Walks, who have been providing such experiences for tourists (and locals) since founding the business back in 2007.
Bought as a Christmas present for my best friend, we met our group of fellow walkers on the outskirts of Dartmeet and were quickly paired up with ‘Leo’, who wasn’t overly keen on cuddles or photographs but was happy to oblige in joining us for the winding stroll to Sharp Tor - a first visit to this particular spot. And what a spot it is! We couldn’t have been luckier with the weather, clear skies giving way to perfect expansive views across the Dart Valley and out to the ‘English Riviera’ - Brixham, Torquay, Paignton. Our co-host, Steve, is an oracle of local knowledge and reels off all the other sights we can see, from Bonehill Rocks to Grimspound, Haytor and Venford Reservoir.
I’m typically a fast walker, which is ideal for life with an energetic young Border Collie, but llamas are most definitely at the other end of the speed spectrum! In Leo’s world, it’s less ‘march’ and more ‘amble’.
But on reflection, I think it did my friend and I good to drop the pace a little. It’s certainly got us talking about a return to the area, armed with a much greater awareness of what’s out there to explore.